The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, “Greetings,” He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Women are the first witnesses to the resurrected Jesus, the first to proclaim the good news. They see the living Lord, fall to His feet, and worship Him. At His feet, Jesus commissions the women to tell the disciples all they have seen and heard – to testify to the truth of the resurrection.
From a posture of worship they move into mission, trembling with fear and stumbling over one another in joy. There is no pause in their actions. They do not stand around wondering if they should trust their vision. They do not take time to discuss how best to share this news. The Lord calls them to be His messengers and their response is reflexive and immediate. Their witness to the disciples becomes the witness to the world.
The women at the tomb did not hesitate to tell the good news of the risen Lord. May the Holy Spirit help us today – to take away whatever may impede our response to tell the good news of Jesus Christ.